Comments about the Global Shipping Program

[kalvin@ebay.com]

Feel free to share your thoughts about the Global Shipping Program here. 

A few questions to get the ball rolling:

• What has worked well for you with the Global Shipping Program?
• Any ideas to help improve the experience for Canadian buyers?
• What has deterred you from buying items offered using the Global Shipping Program?
• How have you managed to search for items outside the program?

Please try & keep the comments constructive 🙂

If you have any questions about the program, please post them here.

[reallynicestamps]

The shipping costs are more than I have ever paid to bring items in from the states,

If you are driving in (or flying in) then the line is drawn at $200 not the $20 for shipped imports.

Complaints about this should be addressed to :

The Right Honourable Stepher Harper PC, MP

House of Commons

OTTAWA ON K1A 0A6

You don't even have to stamp the envelope, just mark it OHMS.

[jellied-eel]

 I was attempting to buy window decals from US sellers. The shipping costs to Canada were 2x-6x the cost of the item. A decal can be placed in an envelope and shipped for $1.20-$1.80. The seller does not need confirmation on  a $2.00 dollar item.

[mater721]

GSP is not meant for $2.00 items.

Find another seller that does not use GSP.

[marnotom!]

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@onemarathonmom wrote:

I am not impressed with the GSP and Pitney Bowes.  The shipping costs are more than I have ever paid to bring items in from the states...

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The biggest reason for this is that you're paying for two shipping charges.  The first charge is what the seller charges to ship the item to the Global Shipping Center in Kentucky, the second charge is what Pitney Bowes charges you for shipping from Kentucky to your door.

GSP listings that have "free" shipping charges within the United States can sometimes ship for a fairly reasonable amount to Canada, but you may have to do some digging to locate them.

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@onemarathonmom wrote:

I am still waiting on 2 items that are in KY that were shipped 2 weeks ago

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Don't presume that the items are still in Kentucky just because there's no further tracking information on them.  That's simply the last location where you have tracking information.  The GSP's tracking system is unpredictable at best.  Besides, having tracking doesn't speed up the progress of the item.  Either you have your item or your don't and tracking or the lack thereof won't change that state of affairs.

For what it's worth, I'm in BC and my wife and I have sometimes waited up to a month for items from the eastern US to reach us by mail, particularly if they're parcel post items.

[marnotom!]

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@jellied-eel wrote:

 I was attempting to buy window decals from US sellers. The shipping costs to Canada were 2x-6x the cost of the item. A decal can be placed in an envelope and shipped for $1.20-$1.80. The seller does not need confirmation on  a $2.00 dollar item.

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The seller is also likely completely unaware that they're "shipping internationally" through the GSP.

[dasia143]

I hope the survey I just received in my email and answered was really from eBay and not bogus. It asked how eBay could improve the shopping experience, so I took the opportunity to throw the book at the GSP. In case it wasn't really them asking, to justify the time I spent writing it I'm posting it here too, to increase the chances of someone from eBay actually seeing it:

"The Global Shipping Program is not at all Canadian-friendly. The shipping is both more expensive--especially for small,light items--and slower than First Class International. There is no tracking. Delivery may be by CanPar, which has one depot more than an hour's drive from my home. I would have to travel two hours in total to pick up my purchase if I'm not home when the parcel arrives (by contrast Canada Post has many outlets).

Purchases cannot be combined into one shipment to save on shipping.

The fees for taxes and brokerage can go up AFTER one has committed to buy and I don't have confidence the import charges are correct. For example, the duty, tax and brokerage for a camera accessory not available in Canada was higher on eBay with GSP than through B&H Photo, which also offers a program where duties etc. are prepaid. B&H very transparently breaks down all the charges, which is not done by the GSP. And you know exactly what you have to pay before you confirm your purchase.

For all those reasons I refuse to deal with sellers using Global Shipping (the CanPar involvement being the absolute deal breaker). So I have to sift tediously through the listings to find the ones not in it; there is no way to screen out GSP items. Since the introduction of the GSP, my buying on eBay has gone from two or three items a week to about one every six weeks. Most of my purchases are not from the USA or the UK any more, but from near (Canada) or far (Continental Europe, Thailand, China). I am also seeking (and finding!) other US online shopping sources (such as B&H)."

I didn't include the fact that in my experience duties and taxes were usually not leved on USPS shipments (most of my purchases were  less than $30, even combined shipments), since theoretically they could have been--at least for the ones over $20. But that of course is another major disincentive to use the GSP--one can never "get lucky" and save the import fees. Even at the border, the customs officer sometimes waves you through if you're a tad over your limit! 

If they were looking for a way to take the fun out of eBay, they hit the jackpot with the GSP.

[arlene_v]

Well stated, Dasia!

This morning I ordered something on Amazon, and what a difference. They even offer an add on feature whereby you can combine a light weight item with any other order over $25 so that shipping for the small light weight item is free. You also have the option of saving that item to combine at a later date with another order. See, this makes the shopper feel that the site is looking out for them.

Oh I know there is no such thing as truly free shipping but this is all about optics ....

One site (Amazon) is running a tight ship, the other (eBay) .... not so much, letting sellers continue to list light weight, inexpensive items that are totally inappropriate for the program. This has been going on now for several years with no end in sight. It is super annoying for the shopper and drives us away.

The way I see is is why should I support a site that doesn't respect or listen to its customer base?

Here's hoping someone will read your reply to that survey,  and maybe take heed, but not to sound cynical, I seriously doubt we will see a thing change, so we'll continue to shop elsewhere more and more. Their loss.

[ferrantho]

I live in Canada and have began purchasing more then I used to. The majority of items I purchase are electronics, gadgets, computer parts, micro-controllers, ect (for hardware & software dev). I have been buying from China and Asian areas to specifically avoid paying this "Import and Duty Fee" to Pitney Bowes? : 

     "International shipping and import charges paid to Pitney Bowes Inc." 

     "This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. This amount is subject       to change until you make payment. For additional information, see the Global Shipping Program"  

  

I do not understand how they get away with stating these charges are for "Import fees, Customs & Duty, Taxes"  because your item is still subject to every one of those fees you thought you just paid for. For more expensive items, Customs will charge import fees and duty. I know this because I pay duty on items when I travel to the US then come back to Canada. The same applies for the taxes, brokerage, and other fees as these additional taxes are determined by the importer's province. So again you could pay this GSP fee and still be charged taxes by your province? Is that correct?  

 I will not purchase items over $20 CAD from US sellers because it's seriously not worth buying the item if you have to factor in:

• Conversion rates (US to CAD, CAD sucks right now)
• Ridiculous Postage Rates (Would take just as long to order from China & free shipping)
• GSP "Import and Duties Fee" (Not really IMPORT & DUTIES because your item can still be subject to REAL Customs Duty.. so yes you pay the GSP when purchasing then may still have to pay duty at the border..)

Why on earth would I pay all this nonsense when the same quality items are being made and sold directly from China. These items from China are 50% less than the US sellers are asking. The items are shipped with FREE postage to Canada. There is also no GSP fees, taxes, import fees, duty, anything like that. I have received some items within 2 weeks of purchase which was a lot quicker than I expected considering the item is coming from across the world. 

So to conclude, myself and the many other electronic buyers have figured out we can purchase the same items from a China based seller for %25-%75 less than if we had purchased from GSP sellers from USA after all the fee's and postage. You may have to wait a little longer or you may not; in my experience USPS and Canada Post take quite a while to process parcels so the China route is not bad. However in the end, I will not purchase from USA sellers for ANY item over $20 CAD that is part of the GSP. I will go out of my way to find a similar item from a Chinese seller because in the end, I know I got the best possible deal and did not overpay unnecessarily. 

The GSP, expensive postage, and other fees are causing many buyers to say NO and go somewhere else when purchasing. The USA seller prices cannot compete with the Chinese markets. There's no comparison.

Verdict:

1. Abolish the GSP 
2. Demand "Pitney Bowes Inc" pay back the millions in "import and duties" they have scammed from us eBay buyers! 🙂

[marnotom!]

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@ferrantho wrote:

I do not understand how they get away with stating these charges are for "Import fees, Customs & Duty, Taxes"  because your item is still subject to every one of those fees you thought you just paid for. For more expensive items, Customs will charge import fees and duty. I know this because I pay duty on items when I travel to the US then come back to Canada. The same applies for the taxes, brokerage, and other fees as these additional taxes are determined by the importer's province. So again you could pay this GSP fee and still be charged taxes by your province? Is that correct?  

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I have purchased one item shipped through the GSP while my spouse has purchased a handful (the most recent being through the UK GSP).  Not once have we had to pay anything beyond what we were initially charged by eBay and PitneyBowes.

[ferrantho]

I appreciate that however in Canada things are a little different. The border can and will charge duty on larger value purchases. So irrespective to the fact you have not gotten charged extra duty/import fees does not mean others get off as lucky. My point is the fact that Pitney Bowes is claiming fees for "import, duty, ect" AND that does not count toward real duty charged at the border. It bothers me this Pitney Bowes company that has nothing to do with my transaction and delivery still receives a percentage of sales. USPS handles the package to the border and Canada Post takes it from there.

I again state.
ABOLISH THIS GSP!
Then we will start purchasing from USA buyers again 🙂

[ferrantho]

I forgot to mention. You said you purchase via GSP which means you are paying the extra charges to Pitney Bowes but my question is why? If you search for the item it is almost surely listed again without GSP.. I am always sure to find listings without GSP as I have found no benefits to the program. Pay more at check out.. Wait the same amount of shipping time if not longer. If the package doesn't arrive they don't care..
Hopefully this program will be off eBay soon enough.

[jimboat63]

the GSP has had a huge affect on buying USA items from Canada.  I cannot think of any positives for the buyer.  somebody is making a lot more $ on transactions, and it dramatically increases the cost to the buyer.  Only help to buyer would be option to opt-out of purchase shipping with GSP.  "Import costs" are often included on items that simply have no import duties or taxes.  Somebody is getting paid for non-existent 'made-up' costs.

Best option is to simply CANCEL this ill-conceived penalty cost.

I have completely STOPPED all purchases from USA, simply because the GSP so dramatically inflates the shipping cost of the items.

[viviennely]

Nike Men's Air Max 2014 Shoes

eBay item number: 261892826321

Price: US $128.99

Import charges: US $48.02

Tax = 40%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????

Higher tax plus slower deliveries/service due to a more complicated less efficient system = MONEY-GRAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pierrelebel]

Unfortunately, in this specific instance, it is more than "taxes"

The "import charge" includes duty on shoes made in China (11% to 18%), plus GST/HST (rate varies depending on your province) plus a handling fee of about $5 charged by Pitney Bowes.

[jimboat63]

= TOTAL RIPOFF!

solution is - don't buy from ebay if GSP is used!

[femmefan1946]

I appreciate that however in Canada things are a little different. The border can and will charge duty on larger value purchases. So irrespective to the fact you have not gotten charged extra duty/import fees does not mean others get off as lucky. My point is the fact that Pitney Bowes is claiming fees for "import, duty, ect" AND that does not count toward real duty charged at the border.

Sigh.

If this happens, then the seller is at fault.

He was supposed to ship the purchase to the PB/GSP plant in Kentucky.

Instead he shipped directly by USPS or a courier.

Those shippers had no idea you had already paid the import fees. Only PB/GSP knew that. And theoretically the seller.

At the GSP plant, all the thousands of purchases are assessed for duty and sales tax, for countries all over the world.

The the purchases are put on trucks, boats or planes for delivery to the destination country.

Those mass shipments are sealed, because they have already been assessed and require no further work from the Canada Border Services Agency.

Once in Canada, the parcels are distributed across the country, usually by Canada Post, but sometimes by CanPar.

Nothing is due, and nothing is collected because those charges, if any, have already been collected and sent to the Canadian Government.

You can phone eBay and ask for a GSP specialist customer service rep. She can get your import fees back since you paid twice.

[ferrantho]

I know how the GSP works as I have spent nights studying the lovely "terms and conditions" that they expect people actually read. The problem is this happens a LOT more than you all think. The seller uses GSP in the listing, but has no idea what that means. The seller processes the shipment as they would normally and not ship through GSP specific locations as to have the packages marked 'Duty Paid.' They will charge GSP and still ship via USPS as they would with any package. USPS has no clue if we paid duty/import charges? Nor do they care. US Postal Service handles outrageous amounts of parcels daily.
I guess maybe the problem is that the average seller do not know GSP procedure. In that case sellers should have GSP option OFF by default unless an experienced seller specifically wants to use GSP (no idea why they would want to..)

Regardless, I agree with my friend a few posts up ^^.. I have yet to see ANY benefit for us Canadians purchasing items from our friends in the USA.
A Tip for fellow Canadian buyers. When you find a GSP item, search for the same or similar item from China or non-GSP afflicted country. I have been habitually purchasing from China and I have saved so much in shipping fees, GSP fees, ect. It doesn't take as long as you think to ship from China 🙂

If someone can point out GSP benefits for a Canadian buyer like myself, I would love to hear.

[pierrelebel]

"I have yet to see ANY benefit for us Canadians purchasing items from our friends in the USA."

You are correct.  GSP was never meant to help Canadian and other foreign buyers.  The purpose of the program is to help American sellers sell outside their borders. The program allows American sellers to handle foreign transactions as if they were domestic.  No risk and feedback protected.  All additional costs are paid by buyers worldwide.

As stated repeatedly for the last three years, most Canadian buyers should avoid listings offering GSP in most instances.  Period.

[ferrantho]

pierrelebel wrote:

"The purpose of the program is to help American sellers sell outside their borders."

 Ironically enough, the point of the GSP you just stated directly contradicts itself: 

"GSP was never meant to help Canadian and other foreign buyers."

If the point is to help American sellers actually sell items, but no customers purchase the items because of the GSP.. it is a direct contradiction. How can GSP help Americans sell when the people buying from will not purchase because of these unnecessary and excessive fees. My point being; American sellers would sell A LOT more without the GSP.  

As you have stated,  "most Canadian buyers should avoid listings offering GSP in most instances.  Period." 

This is exactly what we do. There have been multiple instances where I would have purchased an item from a US seller but went out of my way to purchase from another location as to avoid the GSP.

So just to conclude; If the point of this program is to help US sellers make sales internationally, it fails in every possible way: As I personally, will never purchase items utilizing GSP and it looks like I am not the only one that feels this way.

Abolish GSP. It is simply not worth it.

[pierrelebel]

"If the point is to help American sellers actually sell items, but no customers purchase the items because of the GSP.. it is a direct contradiction."

Actually, Canadians find it difficult to understand but export sales by American sellers have increased since the introduction of the program.  Exports as a percentage of sales by American sellers have gone up.

Not to Canada maybe but... we are a very small part of the world.